Exploring Ecology and Community-based Conservation

The Landscapes and Livelihood students visit several lumber mills to learn about the logging industry firsthand. Here they are pictured at RBM Lumber in Columbia Falls.

SWAN VALLEY – Since the early 2000s, Northwest Connections (NwC) led a two-month course called Landscapes and Livelihood. It introduced college students from all over the country to ecology and community-based conservation in the Swan Valley. Following the merger of NwC and Swan Ecosystem Center, Swan Valley Connections (SVC) continues to teach the course that promotes the triple bottom line: healthy ecology, healthy community and healthy economy.

NwC was founded in 1997 by Tom and Melanie Parker and Andrea Stephens. The initial focus was on conservation work.